Articles by Staff Writers

Volvo is getting ready to join the V8 Supercars next year – fielding two S60 sedans under the banner of Volvo Polestar Racing in partnership with Garry Rogers Motorsport (GRM).However the Swedish brand is already thinking about increasing the number of cars the following year. In 2014, Volvo’s racers -- Scott McLaughlin and a second one yet to be named – will pilot their two cars Holden’s 13 Commodores, Ford's six Falcons, four Nissan Altimas and three Mercedes-Benz E63 AMGS.But Volvo's global motorsport boss Derek Crabb said the prospect of having more S60s appealed to him. "Clearly, the more cars on the grid, the more exposure Volvo gets and the more chances Volvo has of getting a win, which we need," Crabb said. "But then you have to put the cost back into it. So yeah, we dream about year two and year three but let's get through year one first."Polestar Racing owner Christian Dahl agreed. "I think if you are going to fight for the championship in the long term, you need more cars out there because there are a lot of Holdens and only two Volvos," Dahl said. "But that is a question for the future." But for the moment Volvo is dealing with GRM’s sponsor since 2010, Fujitsu, announcing yesterday it would not renew its association with the team next year due to a shift in their "commercial focus".However Garry Rogers is optimistic about finding a new sponsor. "Next year's program has generated a lot of interest and we will now be following up all avenues so as to secure suitable commercial business partners to join the GRM team," he said.

Watch the updated Nissan Patrol video

The Miss Universe pageant took place in Moscow over the weekend. And in the lead-up to the gala judging, Russian race driver Alexey Karachev was enlisted to fling a few of them around the capital's international raceway in a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.Entrants from Austria, Poland, Germany and Russia got to experience the thrill of the car at high speeds, with the expected shrieks and giggles.Being an experienced racer, Karachev remained composed throughout the action -- although he did briefly take his eyes off the track when Miss Germany felt the need to adjust her cleavage.Watch the Miss Universe Merc SLS AMG video here.

Watch the 2014 BMW M235i video here. 

Not only does this dude think he’s above the road laws, but above the laws of human decency and common sense as well. Accelerating at horses, careering among pedestrians and children on a footpath, skimming past traffic on the shoulder, barging through a crowded pedestrian crossing … it seems he’ll stop at nothing – and for nothing.The vehicle’s bonnet suggests he’s in a UAZ Hunter, the Russian equivalent of a Land Rover Defender designed for military use, which means he can take it just about anywhere. And because he can, he does. Not only that, but he’s so proud of his lunatic driving, he’s posted this compilation video to show off his attitude.Reports suggest the driver is allegedly Andrey Rybakin, a Moscow-based car fan who posts self-starring videos he believes are a Russian version of Top Gear. His Facebook page includes several other clips and photos of a range of equally dangerous stunts under the name 'Rybakin Taxis'. We’d generally never wish a car crash on anybody, but nobody would be sorry to see this psychotic driver get some bad luck.Watch Russia’s proud psycho driver video here. 

As if the Renault Megane RS265 isn't enough, the French manufacture has upped the ante with a limited edition model called the RB8 -- for Red Bull 8. It's to celebrate the fourth consecutive victory of the Red Bull Racing Team in the Formula 1 World Championships, but we're not sure why the 8 is in the name. Only 120 of the RB8 will be available, all finished in Dusk Blue paint -- taking its inspiration directly from the race team's colours -- with Platinum detailing. It carries subtle Red Bull Racing branding, and features body-hugging Recaro front seats, the latest R-Link Multimedia system and TomTom Live navigation system, plus the latest on-board RS Monitor v2.0. The $49,990 RB8 is shod as standard with the same Cup chassis and Bridgestone tyres that helped Megane RS 265 Trophy establish a lap record at the Nurburgring. The carbon fibre effect dashboard boasts red highlights and is bisected by a grey centre band. The sporty effect is completed with red seatbelts. Further sporty details include alloy foot pedals, gloss black centre console and insert in the leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a platinum-finished Renaultsport gear knob. The RS Monitor delivers a new, more user-friendly and intuitive interface, which uses R-Link's 7-inch colour display to provide information on GPS tracked lap timing, information in 3D form and real-time access to power output data, 0-100kmh acceleration times, and G-Force read-outs. Power comes from a 195kW (265hp) engine with stop-start for better city economy.  

Audi has designed a virtual car for the coming Ender’s Game movie, based on the hit Orson Scott Card novel.The Audi quattro shuttle ‘driven’ by Harrsion Ford in the movie was created using the latest digital technology tools, although a rear car was used to anchor the motion in the scenes.Watch the Ender’s Game Audi quattro shuttle destop version video here.

Ken Block uses traffic cones to stake out the arenas for his gymkhana choreography. BMW has tried to go one better in this video, using a circle and alley of Chinese vases to show off some stunt driving. But we’re not convinced this is all real – or at least one take. About halfway through you can see the tacho revving high while the speedo is still quite low. And although all the vases appear to come through the ordeal unscathed, being no more than lightly brushed by the Beemer’s wake, we’d be keen to know how many were broken in practice runs. Watch the BMW Chinese vases video here. 

Every year Bentley visits the frozen north of Finland -- close to the Arctic Circle – to pit their powerful vehicles against the slippery surface of the region’s frozen lakes. The annual ‘Power on Ice’ event for 2014 sees their all-wheel drive Continental in a starring sub-zero role, punishing the icy track at full power.Watch the Bentley Power on Ice 2014 | video on the desktop version here.

 Watch the desktop version of the 2014 Audi RS7 video here.